Washing machine



Dec. 25, 1945. Q A LlNDEMANN 2,391,718

WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. l2, 1942 Charles A. Lndemarm,

His Attorneg.

Patented Dec. `25, 1945- Charles A.

tion of New York WASHING MACHINE Lindemann, Bridgeport, Conn., assignorto General Electric Company,

a.A corpora- Application December 12, 1942, Serial No. 468,798

' 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a control for washing machines havingprovisions for causing a cycle of washing operations in timed sequence.

In such machines the complete automatic cycle usually includesoperations which the operator may under some circumstances wish to omit.For example, the operation of soaking the clothes in cold water toremove various stains will be unnecessary with some clothes. emptyingthe machine may sometimes be omitted if the operator Wishes to savetheWater for use with a succeeding batch of clothes. If themachine includesa Water softener the operation of regenerating the softener need not beperformed every wash day.

'I'he operation of The object of my invention is to provide a ilexibleautomatic control which will enable'the op-` erator to select thedesired operations. For la consideration of what I believe novel and myinvention, attention is directed to the following description and theclaims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly broken away,of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe control panel on which the operator selects the desired operations;Fig. 3 is a control diagram; and Fig. 4 is a detail of a modification.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a washing machine of theconstruction disclosed in application Serial No. 391,113, Dunham, filedApril 30, 1941, to which reference may be had for a more completedescription of the details of the construction. This machine comprisesan outer tub or casing I in the upper part of which is a spinner basket2 having tapered side walls provided at the region of greatest diameterwith centrifugal discharge openings 3 which during Washing also serve asoverow openings defining the liquid level. During washing, the spinnerbasket is filled with liquid and the clothes are washed by oscillationof an agitator 4. At the end of the washing operation the spinner basketis rotated to centr fugally dry the clothes, and the liquid disch rgedthrough the discharge openings 3 is collected in the bottom of the tub Iwhere it may be 'either stored for use in a succeeding washing operationor pumped to a drain. The machine has suitable provisions (not shown)for filling the spinner basket either from the liquid in the bottom ofthe tub or from a. Water supply, and f or emptying the tub. The machinealso includes a water softener (not shown) vtol 'gether with provisionsfor regenerating the water softener.- The above described operations,which are typical of the operations performed in an automatic washingmachine, are under the control of a cam stack, indicated by the block 5,which may bethat described more in detail in the aforesaid application.

The cam stack is driven at its normal timing speed, for example, onerevolution an hour, by a shaft 6 connected through an overrunning clutch1, 1a and reduction gearing 8 to an electric motor 9. The inner member'l of the overrunning clutch lis driven by the reduction gearing in acounterclockwise direction. 'I'he outer member 1aV of the overrunningclutch, which is fixed to the shaft 6, has tapered slots I0 containingrollers I I which are wedged into the driving position at the narrowjends of the tapered slots by counterclockwise rotation of the clutchmember lvrelative to the clutch member la.. The shaft 6 also has a highspeed drive, for example one revolution a minute, through bevel gearsl2, I3, I4, and l5, and a clutch I6 which is normally disengaged and ismoved to the engaged position upon energizing a solenoid I1. When thesolenoid is energized, the shaft 6 and the clutch member 1a fixedthereto are driven at the high speed in a counterclockwise direction.'Ihe clutch member 'l at the same time is driven in a counterclockwisedirection at the timing speed through the reduction gearing 8. Therelative movement between the clutch members 'l and 'la is such that therollers Il are dragged toward the wide ends of the tapered slots I0, andthe clutch member 'la accordingly freely rotates relative to the clutchmember 1.

By controlling the solenoid Il the cam stack can be quickly shiftedbetween the high and low speeds. The high speed is fast enough so thatthe operations controlled by the cam stack are effectively skippedduring the high speed rotation. In the case of the shorter operationssuch as Empty, the time lag in the starting of the pump may be such thatthe operation will not start at all during the high speed rotation ofthe cams. With longer operations, such as Wash, the agitator may startto oscillate but there will be no substantial washing.

The solenoid is controlled by a commutator I8 driven by the cam stackand carrying segments I9, 20, 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 21 carryinglegends indicating the respective functions. The segments cooperate withbrushes Isa, 20a, Zla, 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a, 26a, and 21a. Brushes |9a,20a, Zia, 22a, and 23a are in series with normally open switches lSb,20h, 2lb, 22h, and 23h each oi which is associated with a push buttonIsc, 20c, 2|c, 22e, and 23o carrying a legend cor- I resn to the legendci the respective segments. The brush 25a is in series with aY switch24h under the control of a lever 28. The brush 25o is in series with aswitch 25h also under the control of the lever 28. The brush 23a isconnected to one ofthe motor.- terminals 28. 'I'he other motor terminal3@ is connected to one side of the power supply which for convenience islabeled the other side being labeled The brush 21a is connected to oneside of the solenoid I1, the other side of the solenoid being connectedto the side of the power supply.

At the end of the cycle of washing operations the control stops when thesegments 23 and v25 move from under the brushes- 23a and 25a, thusopening the circuit to the motor. The machine stops in this position atthe end of any cycle of operations. To condition the control for asucceeding cycle of operations, the operator rst moves the lever 28 tothe position marked Reset. This closes the switch 24h and lifts a rod 3lcarrying projections 32 which cooperate with,

latches 33 to release any of the push buttons I9c, 20c, 2Ic, 22e, or 23ewhich may have been previously operated.

The closing of theswitch 24h completes a circuit to the solenoid I1which shifts to the high speed drive for the control cam stack 5. Theswitch 24h also completes a circuit to the motor through the brush 24a,reset segment 24, jumper 24d connecting the reset segment with thesegment 25, and jumper 25d connecting the segment 25 with the motorsegment 26. When the segment 24 moves from under the brush 24a, thecircuit to the motor is broken and the @am stack comes to rest with thebrushes I9a and 25a on the leading endsof the segments I9 and 25.Because the solenoid I1 is energized whenever the lever 28 is in thereset position, the lever is preferably biased away from the resetposition by a spring 34 so that the lever cannot be left in the resetposition when the machine is not in use. The operator next moves thelever 28 to the o position and pushes buttons corresponding to theWashing operations to be performed in the next cycle of operations. If amistake is made in operating the push buttons, the lever 28 is merelymoved to the Reset position, releasing all of the buttons and returningto the oi position so that a new selection may be made. When theselection is completed, the operator moves the lever 28 tothe onposition, closing the switch 25h in series with the brush 25a and thesegment 25. The segment 25 is connected by the jumper 25d to the segment26 connected to the motor terminal 29 through brush 26a so the closingof the switch 25h starts the operation of the machine. If the lever 28is moved to the on" position before any of the push buttons have beenoperated, the solenoid I1 is energized through a circuit which extendsfrom the positive side of the power supply through the solenoid to thebrush 21a and segment 21 and through jumpers I9d, 20d, 2Id, 22d, and 23dto the segments I9, 20, 2|, 22, and 23 and the respective brushes |90..20a, 2Ia, 22a, and 23a and switches |91), 20hy 2lb, 22h, and 2317 to thenegative side of the power supply. Since each of the segments occupies adifferent arc, at any particular instant the circuit to the solenoidwill be completed through only one of the segments and itscorrespondingr brush and switch. At all times, the position of the camstack is shown by an indicator comprising a dial 35 driven by the camstack and a cooperating arrow 36. Through these successive f theseoperations.

assiste K positions in which the solenoid ris energized, thel cam stackis advanced at its high speed and finally comes to rest at the positionin which the brush 23a ceases to make contact with the empty segment 23.1f one or more of the push 'buttons had been operated prior to movingthe lever 28 to the on position, the solenoid would have beendeenergized at the positions corresponding to the operated push buttons,and in these positions the cam stack would have been advanced at itsslow, or timing, speed. With the push buttons as illustrated inFig. 3,after moving the lever 28 to the on position the cam stack would beadvanced at the high speed through the soak segment I9, at its slow, ortiming, speed through the wash segment 20, and at its high speed throughthe rinse, dry, and empty segments 2l, 22 and 23.

After the machine has started to perform the selected cycle ofoperations, the operator is not precluded from making another selection.If an operation in the subsequent sequence is to be omitted, theoperator merely moves the lever 28 to Reset, releasing-.all of the pushbuttonsand stopping the control, then moves the lever 23 to off whileoperating push buttons corresponding to the desired operations =in thesubsequent sequence, and then to on starting the automatic operation asdescribed above. If an operation in the subsequent sequence is to beadded, the operator merely operates the corresponding push buttonwithout touching the lever 28.

It is obvious that the push buttons have been arbitrarily labeledtoillustrate the operation of the control and that the control is notlimited to Instead of selecting single operations it might under somecircumstances be preferable that each push button select a group ofoperations suitable for a particular type of clothes.

The control has the advantages of automatic timing of the washingopera-tions with the added advantage of being able to select at any timethe particular operations to be automatically performed.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification for use in the previously describedcontrol to replace any of the push buttons I9c, 20c, 2Ic, 22e, or 23c incase it is desired that the length of the operation be adjustable. It isillustrated as applied to the control of the Washing operation since itis frequently ,desirable that the washing time be adjusted to troldiagram of Fig. 3, the wash segment 20 is replaced by an arcuate segment31 (shown in elevation in Fig. 4) of the same length as the segment 20but inclined away from the face of the commutator I8, and the brush20a., the switch 20h, and the push button 20c are replaced by a brush 38adjustable toward and away from the inclined face of the segment 31 by aknob 39 fixed to a metal sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 is threaded in a metalbushing 4I connected to the side of the power supply and carried by asupport 42 of insulating material. All of the other parts andconnections remain as shown in Fig. 3. The brush 38 slidably projectsthrough a cap 43, closing the lower end of the sleeve 40, and is springbiased toward the segment 31 'by a spring 44, The brush 38 first makescontact with the segment 31 at a'point which depends upon the separationof the brush and segment which is determined by the adjustment of thesleeve 4U. When the knob 39 is turned to the position in which thepointer 45 is opposite zero on the scale 48, the brush 38 is in aposition to contact the left-hand end of the segment 31, the end of thesegment corresponding to the start of the washing operation. 'I'hiscloses a circuit to the solenoid I1, causing the automatic shifting tothe high speed drive so that the washingoperation is skipped asdescribed above. The spning 44 permits the necessary-yielding of thebrush. When the knob 39 is adjusted so that thepointer 45 is oppositethe legend Maximum on the scale 48, the brush 38 is moved to a positionin which it does not contact the segment 31, and the cam stack isaccordingly driven at the timing speed throughout the washing which willtake place for the maximum period for which the machine is designed. Atintermediate positions of the knob 39, the brush 38 will contact thesegment 31 at an intermediate position and cause the shifting to thehigh speed drive of the cam stack at the end of the selected period. Thewashing time is determined by the portion of the segment 31 which doesnot make contact with the brush 38. By the Fig. 4 construction, theoperator can preset the control to perform the desired operations forthe selected time interval.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a washing machine, a control means movable to positions causingcorresponding washing operations, timing meansfor advancing the controlmeans through sequential positions and thereby causing a timed sequenceof operations, selector means operable to select in advance operationscorresponding to part of the positions of the control means within thesubsequent sequence, and means effective atthe positions correspondingto the unselectedoperations for advancing the control means relative tothe timing means through the positions corresponding to the unselectedoperations.

2. In a washing machine, a control means movable to sequential positionscausing corresponding washing operations, alternative means for'automatically advancing the control means through its sequentialpositions respectively at slow and high speeds, and selector meansoperable to select in advance positions within the subsequent sequenceat which the advancing of.

the control means shall be shifted from one to the other of saidalternative means.

3'. In a washing machine, a controllexans movable to sequentialpositions causing corresponding washing operations, a timer drive foradvancing the control means through the sequential positions and therebycause a timed sequence of operations, a high speed drive for advancingthe control means relative to the timer drive, and selector meansoperable in advance to select positions within the subsequent sequenceat which the low speed drive shallbe eifective.

4. In a washing machine, a control means mov-l able to sequentialpositions causing corresponding washing operations, high and low speeddrives for advancing the control means. means for shifting to one or theother of said drives, and selector means operable in advance to disablesaid shifting means at certain of the positions within the subsequentsequence.

5. In a washing machine, an automatic control means, means for advancingthe control means at a timing speed to cause a sequence of washingoperations, selector means operable in advance to select ldesiredoperations within the subsequent sequence, and means for automaticallyadvancing the control means through positions corresponding to theunselected operations at a high speed relative to the timing speed.

6. In a washing machine, a control means movable to positions causingcorresponding washing operations, timing means for advancing the controlmeans through sequential positions and thereby causing a timed sequenceof operations, said control means including a commutator having segmentscorresponding to the operations, an alternative drive for advancing thecontrol means at a high speed relative to the timing speed, a solenoidfor shifting from one to the other of said drives, and manuallypresettaole selector means in circuit with the solenoid and saidsegments for determining the operation of the solenoid.

'1. In an automatic control for a washing machine, a control memberhaving segments corresponding to tne operations to be performed, brushescooperating with the respective segments. means for driving the controlmember at timing speed, alternative means. for driving the controlmember at a high speed relative to tne timing speed, means controlled bya circuit through one of said brushes and its corresponding segment i'orshifting from one to the other of said drives, and manually operableselector means presetting the point at which the circuit is closed.

8. In apparatus for performing operations in timed sequence, a controlhaving a brush and a cooperating segment corresponding to one of theoperations, alternative drives for the control for eecting relativemovement of the brush and segment respectively at timing speed and at ahigher speed, means for adjusting the length of the segment brushcontacting surface, and means for shifting from one to the other of saiddrives for the duration of the contact of said brush with said surfacewhereby said adjustment determines the length of the correspondingoperation.

9. In apparatus for performing operations in timed sequence, a controlhaving a brush and a cooperating segment corresponding to one of theoperations, the shape of the segment being such that the length of thebrush contacting surface is dependent upon the position of the brush,alternative drives for the control for eecting relative movement of thebrush and segment respectively at timing speed andy at a higher speed,means for adjusting the position of the brush, and means for shiftingfrom one to the other of said drives for the duration of the contact ofsaid brush with said surface whereby said adjustment determines thelength of the corresponding operation.

CHARLES A` LUIDEMANN.

